Police say an underage suspect was killed and a Salem officer was wounded when the suspect exchanged gunfire with police in the 4900 block of Northeast Oak Park Drive Wednesday. (Ardeshir Tabrizian/Salem Reporter)
This story was updated Thursday afternoon after Salem police identified the teen who was killed during the arrest attempt.
Police say an underage suspect was killed and a Salem officer was wounded when the suspect traded gunfire with police during an attempted arrest Wednesday.
Around 5 p.m., Salem detectives along with a tactical team tried to arrest a youth suspected in two separate shootings — March 18 at Salem Center Mall and June 13 downtown in a parking lot next to Columbia Bank, according to a news release.
Salem police Thursday afternoon identified the teen as 16-year-old Robert Fletemier-Brown.
Officers contacted the suspect at a vehicle parked in the 4900 block of Northeast Oak Park Drive.
The youth pulled out a gun, and “an exchange of gunfire ensued,” Salem police said in the release. The suspect “was shot and died at the scene.” Police did not say who fired the shot that killed the teen.
One officer was shot and transported to Salem Hospital, and is expected to fully recover, according to the release. The department did not identify the officer.
Police said they will not release the name of the suspect due to their age. Juvenile court records are generally confidential under state law.
Salem police identified four officers involved and their years of service:
– Brian Frazzini, 19 years
– Erick Hernandez, 14 years
– Ryan Morris, 20 years
– Adam Waite, 14 years
Salem Police Department policy requires that “involved officers” be placed on paid administrative leave during ongoing investigations. That includes any officers who fire shots or witness another officer fire.
The incident is the third fatal shooting this year involving Salem police officers.
Oregon State Police are the primary agency conducting use of a deadly force investigation. The county requires that an uninvolved law enforcement agency conduct such investigations, and Salem police will release no additional information about the incident, the news release said.
The March 18 shooting occurred on the first floor inside Salem Center Mall, police said at the time.
Two groups of teens exchanged verbal taunts and headed toward the exit to settle the dispute outside, the agency said in a March 20 summary of incidents officers responded to that week. Police said the groups traded words before one teen pulled out a handgun and started firing at one teen from the other group.
A teen boy was injured when one bullet “grazed his head,” police said in the summary, and the teen with the gun ran away with the rest of the group. The injured boy was transported to Salem Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Salem police said in a news release the day of the shooting. The agency announced no arrests in that incident.
The June 13 incident came after an argument between several people at the Cherriots Transit Mall, Salem police said in a news release.
Officers responded and found a 20-year-old man who was wounded by gunfire in a parking lot by Columbia Bank on Northeast Center Street. The injured person was transported to Salem Hospital with a life-threatening injury.
A 16-year-old boy was arrested on charges including attempted murder and unlawful use of a weapon following the incident. Another boy, 14, was arrested on charges of menacing and unlawful use of a weapon. Police say he brandished a knife during the dispute. Both teens were lodged at the Marion County Juvenile Detention Center, Salem police said at the time.
PRIOR COVERAGE
One boy injured in shooting at Salem Center mall Friday, police say
No arrests a week after Salem Center mall shooting, police say
Two boys arrested, man in “critical condition” after shooting downtown Monday, police say
Contact reporter Ardeshir Tabrizian: [email protected] or 503-929-3053.
JUST THE FACTS, FOR SALEM – We report on your community with care and depth, fairness and accuracy. Get local news that matters to you. Subscribe to Salem Reporter starting at $5 a month. Click I want to subscribe!
